Purpose: This bill amends several existing pieces of legislation, with the overarching goal to increase enforcement of fishing regulations by giving the Secretary of Commerce and of the department that oversees the Coast Guard equal authority to enforce fishing-related policies. It also authorizes additional enforcement measures.
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Status: Introduced.
Action: SUPPORT. Please contact your U.S. Representative and ask him or her to support H.R. 1080. Tell your Representative that unregulated fishing takes resources from everyone and can be more effectively addressed with the passage of this bill.
Talking Points for your letter:
- Unregulated fishing has profound impacts on populations of fish species, including endangered ones. The waning population of one fish species affects its whole ecosystem, and unregulated fishing depletes populations of many fish species.
- H.R. 1080 makes it easier for the United States to identify other countries that are engaged in illegal, unreported, or unregulated fishing and take appropriate steps to end these practices.
- The United States is a party to several international fishing agreements. The provisions of H.R. 1080 improve the United States’s ability to participate in these agreements and to create better international enforcement mechanisms.
- H.R. 1080 also allows for more information exchange between various agencies within the U.S. government. These data exchanges will be helpful in identifying and addressing illegal fishing problems.
- Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing does not just deplete resources; it also interferes with the ability of individuals who fish legally to profit, especially in developing countries.
- Illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing has been on the rise over the past decade. This worldwide problem is increasing, so it is important the United States act now to prevent further damage to fish populations and the marine environment.